What are the odds that two relatively undersize quarterbacks who grew up in small Texas towns just 130 miles apart would win Heisman trophies in back-to-back years, become first-round NFL draft picks and ooze so much charisma that they trademarked their nicknames before making their pro debuts?

Griffin and Manziel are also 99 percent of the reason why Monday’s preseason clash between teams that finished at the bottom of their respective divisions last season with abysmal records (Washington, 3-13; Cleveland, 4-12) is such compelling viewing, in full-hype mode for “Monday Night Football.”

Griffin, 24, is expected to play the first quarter. Manziel, 21, is expected to come off the bench behind incumbent starter Brian Hoyer yet get an equal share of snaps with the Browns’ first team.

Comparisons between the Heisman Trophy winners — each, the face of his franchise — are sure to fly fast and furious Monday night. Consider this a jump-start on the tale of the tape to come:

Griffin

Manziel

Height

6-2

6-0

Weight

222

210

Age

24

21

Home town

Copperas Cove, Tex. (pop. 33,374)

Kerrville, Tex. (pop. 22,455)

College

Baylor

Texas A&M

Drafted

1st rd., 2nd overall (2012)

1st rd., 22nd overall (2014)

Heisman Trophy

2011 (405 first-place votes)

2012 (474 first-place votes)

2014 preseason opener stats

Griffin

Manziel

Outcome

def. New England, 23-6

lost to Detroit, 13-12

Passing

2 for 4, nine yards

7 for 11, 63 yards

Cmp. pct.

50

63.6

QB rating

56.2

79.0

Rushing

0 attempts

Six for 27 yds.

Have a Redskins question? Send an e-mail to mike.jones@washpost.com with the subject line “Mailbag question,” and it might be answered on Tuesday in The Mailbag.

Liz Clarke currently covers the Washington Redskins for The Washington Post. She has also covered seven Olympic Games, two World Cups and written extensively about college sports, tennis and auto racing.

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